Trey Burke declares for NBA Draft

Trey Burke is off to the NBA after formally announcing his intentions at a press conference in Ann Arbor on Sunday afternoon.

Burke was a consensus All-American and National Player of the Year and led Michigan to the Final Four for the first time in 20 years. The Michigan point guard is projected as a top ten pick by most draft scouts after averaging 19 points, seven assists and three rebounds per game during his sophomore season.

Burke is one of four Michigan players that have NBA options to weigh this spring. Tim Hardaway Jr., Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary have yet to announce announce whether they will enter the draft or return to school. While Michigan players were on hand for Burke’s announcement, they were not available to comment to the media.

Here’s the University of Michigan release on Burke’s departure.

“Looking back, I could not be happier with my decision to return for my sophomore year at the University of Michigan,” said Burke. “As a team, we showed what hard work and sticking together can do when faced with any adversity we had this year. We knew this team had the potential to make it the Final Four, and I’m proud of everything we accomplished this year. These guys will always be my brothers, and the memories we’ve made will stick with me forever.

“After talking it over with my family and coaching staff and weighing all my options, I have decided to enter the NBA Draft. I feel that is the right decision for me and my future. It has been a dream of mine to play in the NBA, and I feel excited and well prepared to take that next step in my career.

“My time at Michigan has helped me grow tremendously as both a basketball player and as a person. I will always be grateful for the opportunity Coach Beilein and his staff gave me to wear the Maize and Blue. I have learned so much from this staff and this university about what is really important if you want to be successful in your future. I love the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor community, and it will always be a place I call home.

“I’d like to thank my teammates, my coaching staff, my family and the best fans in the world for making my two years at Michigan very special.”

“Trey’s desire to be the best at everything he does has helped Michigan basketball achieve things it hadn’t done in 20 years,” said U-M Head Coach John Beilein. “I am extremely proud of the young man he’s become and believe he is prepared to take the next step in his career.

“His incredible work ethic and effective leadership skills will serve him well in the NBA and during the many opportunities he will have the rest of his life. He is a winner at heart, and I am confident he will continue to have even more success in all of his future endeavors.

“Today is an extraordinary day for Trey, his family and the University of Michigan. On behalf of the entire Michigan basketball family, we wish him the best of luck in his professional career, and we will be rooting for him every step of the way.”